She said
that Sunday
eight years ago
it hadn’t been
long enough,
“give him just
a little more
time.”

I never
knew what
it was I had
done and asked
her to help me
understand so
I could make
amends.

She refused
to say, brushed
me off and away
but told me I could
leave your class
to move things
further toward
healing.

She said you
were distracted
by me, that I was
a distraction. So I
left, never went
back again to
a place I
needed.

I tried
to build a bridge,
own my part in breach
between us: bomb blast.
Angry citizens of God’s
kingdom chased me
far, far from edge
of mercy.

I ask God
how long, Lord,
how long will it take
for light and truth and
forgiveness, grace and
mercy and goodness
and love to
come?

Time edges
and erases me
as I try to give you
all the time you need.